Web 2.0 is Your Friend!

A workshop sponsored by The Center for Children's Books at the Graduate School of Library and Information Science, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

What is Web 2.0?

• “Read/write” capabilities, rather than “read-only”
• User-generated content
• An all-purpose platform, a suite of applications
• Participatory, decentralized, self-service
• Content available for remixing, aggregating, syndicating
• A social space, conducive to sharing

Implications for "Library 2.0"

• It's important to meet our users where they are. Findings from the Digital Youth Project research:
  • Social network sites, online games, video-sharing sites, and gadgets such as iPods and mobile phones are now fixtures of youth culture
  • Today’s youth are coming of age and struggling for autonomy and identity amid new worlds for communication, friendship, play, and self-expression
  • Youth use online media to extend friendships and interests
  • Youth engage in peer-based, self-directed learning online
• We can do this by applying Web 2.0 principles and sensibilities to the library environment
• Identify social tools that promote information sharing, learning, and personal growth, and are safe(ish)
• DO teach responsible use of information and communication technologies - keep the conversation open!